Dave is a graduate of Santa Rosa High School and USC - Marshall School of Business.
In High School he was a member of the Civil Air Patrol Cadets and in his senior year he started flying lessons at the Petaluma Sky Ranch. After graduation from USC he remained in SoCal where he began a career as a commercial real estate appraiser. He also served 6 years in the US Army Reserves as a Staff Sargeant (the Cuban Missile Crisis happened during his time of service).
He lived in Thousand Oaks and became very involved in community and civic affairs, including serving 5 years on the Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors as VP of the Economic Development Council. He worked on and was instrumental in acquiring the Oxnard Air Force base for general aviation. He served 2 years on the Ventura County Aviation Advisory Commission. He was President of the Conejo Valley Rotary Club. He was General Chairman in 1976 of the annual community event called Conejo Valley Days.
In 1985 he came home to Santa Rosa and continued as Ford Appraisal Service, retiring in 2007. He was President of the Pacific Coast Air Museum in 2018 and 2019 and is still active at the museum.
David O'Rear Presents "Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Sino-US Relations"
Our speaker for September 4, 2025 was David O’Rear, Paul O’Rear’s brother, Bonnie Lander’s husband, and Penny Millar’s brother-in-law. In case that’s confusing, David provided us with a chart of these Sunrise entanglements.
David worked in Taiwan and Hong Kong from 1984 until 2015 in a variety of positions, including market research, analysis of political and economic trends, and Chief Economist for the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce, where he managed economic policy with an emphasis on taxation, laws, and regulations, and major industrial sectors. His duties included policy lobbying, giving seminars on a variety of topics, and chairing hundreds of international conferences. David has a master’s degree in Asian Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. David’s topic was “Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Sino-U.S. Relations.”
China’s dealings with the West in the recent 5 centuries started with Portugal’s presence in Guangdong (Canton) starting in 1557 and its monopoly on China trade for generations. In 1841, Britain seized Hong Kong, just across the river from China. Hong Kong and Macau were returned to China in 1997 and 1999. In an effort to convince Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan to accept the transfer, China’s then leader, Deng Xiaoping, promoted the idea that China would do nothing to harm these countries’ economic interests after Hong Kong and Macau rejoined China. This was important because Hong Kong and Taiwan were 2 of the “Four Asian Tigers/Dragons/Miracle Economies” that had seen massive economic improvement and growth. From 1978 to 2012, China took a relatively calm approach to Hong Kong and Taiwan, but once Xi Jinping took power in 2012, the political situation soured, and China cracked down on Hong Kong’s democratic political parties and processes. Taiwan noticed this change.
The threat of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan remains significant, but David believes that war is unlikely in the next 2 years (unless someone does something incredibly stupid!). Xi Jinping has wiped out his political rivals and purged China’s general officer corps, especially the rocket force. Very few Chinese military leaders have seen combat, and then only infantry warfare many years ago. This leaves China’s militarily leadership unprepared to fight a war against the United States, Taiwan’s key ally. However, David acknowledged that the current U.S. administration’s response to military aggression is highly unpredictable, leading to the possibility of Chinese (or U.S. miscalculation). As David says, “Stupid happens.”
Thank you, David, for sharing your amazing depth of knowledge with Santa Rosa Sunrise Rotary. Your remarks will help us all understand the possibility and risks of war between China, the U.S., and Taiwan.
Click HERE to view a limited time recording of David's presentation.
This week in 2008 - Dave Lorenzen and Kelly Waggener
On a regular basis, our resident photo pro Warren Smith, submits pictures of what is going on at the weekly meetings. You can always find the most recent pictures at the websites photo journal called "Meeting Sighting" Please note that all the meeting photos for the entire Rotary year are at this location with the most recent on the last page.
Thanks for all the great pictures Warren!Link to Meeting Sightings. The most recent are on the last page!
November 14, Friday marks the 21st Annual Veterans Tribute luncheon.
Colonel Misty, Zelk Air National Guard Physician and combat veteran of Iraq and currently Medical Director at Spring Lake Village is our keynote speaker.
Contact Ralph Harryman or Rich Randolph for your tickets.
Invite an American Veteran, other friends.
One of the musical ensembles hails from Camp Parks Army Reserve Band.
F.I.S.H. Director Jennifer surveys the immense cache of produce netted last Wednesday at the warehouse. Bagger Betsy was adjusting the bag fill options as the food came in.
Potatoes, apples, carrots abound. White and yellow onions to add flavor and some fresh meat makes a hearty stew. The line of cars forecast just over 100 recipients this day.
Wednesdays are busy. Help from Becoming Independent help sort and portion large donations.
Something for everyone of All ages to do - no dress code. Coordinator Tom parses out pet food for smaller portions to s t r e t c h the supply.
Sunrisers and friends account for dozens of hours weekly to bring in fresh catches and assure speedy delivery. Interested? Contact Paul O Rear.
When I stepped into the role of Rotary International president, the moment came swiftly and unexpectedly. It got me thinking how the world can change in an instant, and how Rotary has the power to be a steady force for good in that change. This month, Rotary’s Basic Education and Literacy Month, we have a clear call to action: to strengthen the foundation of learning in every community we serve.
Millions of people worldwide remain unable to read. Millions of children lack access to basic education. And yet, we know the solution: sustainable, inclusive, and equitable education, especially for girls and marginalized youths. Literacy is more than the ability to read and write. It is the key to human dignity, economic mobility, and peace. Every book opened, every classroom supported, and every teacher trained becomes a building block of peace.
This year, our message is Unite for Good. “Unite” speaks to the strength we find in each other. When we unite our talents and resources — not only among our clubs but across partners, organizations, and communities — we expand our reach. And when we do so consistently over time, we create lasting change. Rotary service cannot be measured only in annual goals. Our work in education must extend beyond a single year. Literacy projects take time to take root, grow, and bear fruit.
Now is the time to think boldly and creatively. New types of clubs can help us engage educators, students, and advocates in new ways. Let us use this month to welcome new members with a passion for education and empower existing ones to lead service projects that reflect local needs. Whether you’re building libraries, distributing textbooks, or mentoring students, your actions matter.
Education is also peacebuilding. Every scholarship we provide, every early childhood program we support, every adult literacy class we fund is an act of peace. And Rotary has been building peace in this way for more than a century.
Let us not forget that the fight for literacy is not only about access, it’s about equity. It is about ensuring every learner, regardless of background, has the opportunity to reach their potential. And it is about standing together — across borders, languages, and generations — to say that education is a right, not a privilege.
Let’s Unite for Good by committing to literacy that lasts. Let’s dream of a world where every child learns to read. And then, as people of action, let’s work together to make that dream a reality.
Together, we can change lives, starting with the power of education. Together, we Unite for Good.
You can find all prior "RI President's Messages" at this LINK
Education is the most powerful tool we have for changing the world, and during Basic Education and Literacy Month, I want to remind everyone why our work matters.
Education breaks the cycle of poverty, opens doors to opportunity, and empowers individuals to transform their communities. But education doesn’t exist in a vacuum. We must also address peace, health, clean water, economic opportunity, maternal and child health, and the environment.
This is why Rotary has these areas of focus. Lasting change requires a comprehensive approach. When we collaborate across these areas through The Rotary Foundation, we raise up communities sustainably and with dignity.
Today, I have asked Lynne Paradis from the Rotary Club of Red Deer, Alberta, to share her passion for literacy:
“I believe that literacy is a human right. When I joined forces with the Rotary Club of San Ignacio, Belize, over a decade ago, we set out to improve reading instruction, but we had no idea how far this journey would take us.
Literacy Alive! has been supported by eight Rotary Foundation global grants since 2011. Using a straightforward approach based on phonics and science, we updated how teachers teach and focused on how students really learn. We collected data on reading skills improvement over six months.
After demonstrating that teachers had integrated new practices into daily instruction, the project snowballed. The Belize Ministry of Education took notice.
Today, over 1,300 teachers have been trained and more than 20,000 students have benefited. We’ve achieved over 90 percent success rates, with many students making more than a year’s worth of improvement in just five months.
The program is now compulsory in Belize primary schools. What moves me most is hearing teachers say how confident they are that they can change students’ lives.
Our greatest success is working ourselves out of a job. When local educators take the lead, we know lasting change is underway.”
Lynne’s story exemplifies the power of Foundation grants. Through partnerships spanning six Rotary clubs and three countries, Literacy Alive! reminds us how good Rotary is at creating systemic change.
When our members’ passion meets Foundation support, we don’t just improve individual lives, we change entire communities. By supporting the Foundation, you can put your passion to work this month and every month.
You can find all prior "Messages from the Foundation Trustee Chair" at this LINK
In the western Amazon, Rotary clubs in the city of Iquitos participated in a seminar in January to learn about the state of the area’s schools. Two District 4465 leaders, Doris Alván and Fernando Del Aguila, enlisted a well-known educator in the area, Josefa Ríos Gil, to share with Rotarians what they can do to assist educators. In May, the Rotary Club of Iquitos Amazonas finished one related initiative, a district grant-supported teen empowerment project that taught young people to make earrings sold at eco-lodges near Lake Zungarococha. The club also provided school supplies to primary schools in the area.
United States
Prom is an expensive rite of passage, with purchases of gowns, tuxedos, flowers, meals, and transportation. In New York City, the Rotary Club of North Shore (Staten Island) is helping students through its “Cinderella/Cinderfella” project. The entire 25-member club solicits new and gently used formal attire, some of which is purchased new by Rotarians. In April, students from across the borough are invited to choose from about 200 free dresses and suits, as well as shoes and accessories, so they’re ready for prom season. The project was started in 2024 by then-President Suzanne Demetrio and is led by members Stephanie Accardo and Regina Boukhvalova. “We believe no student should miss out due to financial hardship,” says Demetrio. “We are giving young people the chance to feel special and confident on one of the biggest nights of their lives.”
This story originally appeared in the September 2025 issue of Rotary magazine.
Rotary projects make a difference in communities around the world.
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In the western Amazon, Rotary clubs in the city of Iquitos participated in a seminar in January to learn about the state of the area’s schools. Two District 4465 leaders, Doris Alván and Fernando Del Aguila, enlisted a well-known educator in the area, Josefa Ríos Gil, to share with Rotarians what they can do to assist educators. In May, the Rotary Club of Iquitos Amazonas finished one related initiative, a district grant-supported teen empowerment project that taught young people to make earrings sold at eco-lodges near Lake Zungarococha. The club also provided school supplies to primary schools in the area.
Prom is an expensive rite of passage, with purchases of gowns, tuxedos, flowers, meals, and transportation. In New York City, the Rotary Club of North Shore (Staten Island) is helping students through its “Cinderella/Cinderfella” project. The entire 25-member club solicits new and gently used formal attire, some of which is purchased new by Rotarians. In April, students from across the borough are invited to choose from about 200 free dresses and suits, as well as shoes and accessories, so they’re ready for prom season. The project was started in 2024 by then-President Suzanne Demetrio and is led by members Stephanie Accardo and Regina Boukhvalova. “We believe no student should miss out due to financial hardship,” says Demetrio. “We are giving young people the chance to feel special and confident on one of the biggest nights of their lives.”